The Party Planner - 2010

by Laurie Walker

The short film by Laurie Walker explores the idea of distraction to Dave, who is on his way to a party with his friends. As designated driver, Dave is visited by an unexpected guest who helps him plan his night out. She ticks off some important basics of arranging the event, but her suggestion to get them there safety is her most convenient piece of advice.

Road crashes are the biggest killer of young people aged 16 to 25. In their first year of driving, young people are about three times more likely to be killed or injured than older, more experienced drivers. Young drivers are more at risk because they lack driving experience and take risks on the roads. The tendency to take risks is part of being a young person, but for too many young people this results in death or serious injury on the roads.

Risk Taking Facts

When carrying two or more passengers a young driver’s risk of being involved in a fatal crash is over five times higher than travelling alone.

Young passengers are most likely to be killed in a car when travelling with young drivers.

For young male drivers, the riskiest combination is travelling with young male passengers, compared to all other combinations.

What young people think about risk taking

When asked, young Victorians have given valuable insights into how they think about risk taking. Research has shown:

Passengers are central to risky driving, especially for young men.

Young male passengers rarely discourage their male peers from engaging in risky driving behaviours and often actively encourage it.

As a driver, many young males say they drive in a risky way to show off to young male passengers, even if the passengers haven’t asked them to.

Young male drivers are less likely to engage in risky actions with female passengers because they want to protect them, don’t feel as much need to impress them, female passengers are more willing to speak out and because they listen to their girlfriends.

Common reasons young people give for risk taking:

Peer group pressure

Impressing friends and wanting to be accepted

Going along with the crowd and not wanting to be left out.

Sense of invincibility

Don’t feel they can say no or speak up when they are in a risky situation.

How young people rationalise their risky behaviour:

“If all your friends are doing something you’re safer sticking together even if it is in a car… you’d be in more danger if you stayed behind on your own … or caught a train at night on your own rather than getting in the car”

Young people:

Talk down the possible outcomes

Avoid thinking about possible consequences

Blame their risky behaviour on outside factors and are overconfident about their driving skills.

Recognise they have a choice when faced with a risky situation but they claim the alternative is often neither practical nor a solution.